thomas



Patented nec. I3, |898.

lC. H. THOMAS.

cHAlNLEss BlcYcLE.

(Application ledsept. 15, 1897.)

(No Model.)

xvi I li lrlllill..

. Xiu/MEE...-

M m w M n@ mi mams PETERS co. novo-umu.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. THOMAS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO LOIS E. THOMAS, OF SAME PLACE.

CHAINLESS BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,763, dated December 13, 1898.

Application tiled September 15, 1897. Serial No. 651,707. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may-concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. THOMAS, of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chainless Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to so-called chainless bicycles, or, to be more particular, to the manner of transmitting motion from the crank-shaft to the rear or driving` wheel.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction of the device, as will be hereinafter more clearly set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure I is a view in side elevation of a bicycle embodying my invention. Fig. II illustrates the connection 'and operation of the gearing. Fig. III is a view in elevation of the driving-wheel,which is connected to the crank-shaft. Fig. IVis a view in vertical vsection taken through the drivingwheel, showing its construction more clearly. Fig. V is a view in Velevation of the so-called receiving-wheel, which meshes with the driving-wheel. Fig. VI is a sectionall view taken through one of the rollers and its journal.

A represents the frame of the bicycle,which may be of any of the usual constructions.

B represents the cross-brace, which is the brace running from the crank-shaft bearing to the rear wheel in a horizontal direction.

C represents a sleeve which surrounds the brace B and has :its bearing thereon. This sleeve C is so mounted on the brace B as to be free to revolve. At one end of the sleeve C, I provide a wheel D. Vheel D is provided with roller-teeth d, which project from the periphery of the wheel D in aline approximately at right angles to the axis of said wheel. The rollers d are mounted on wheel D by securing spindles to the periphery of the wheel and mounting and securing the rollers on said spindle. These rollers d form the teeth of the wheel D.

E represents the driving-wheel. This driving-wheel E is positively secured to the crankshaft F and is formed as follows: Two disks E and E2 are secured together in any suitable manner, either by brazing the parts, rivetin g them together, or otherwise. The disks E E2 are, however, separated one from the other, as shown in Fig. III, by means of an annular flange G. This flange G is so' secured between the disks E and E2 as to be flush with the periphery of the disk E2 and slightly below the periphery of the disk E'.

c represents a lug or projection (of which 6o there are several) projecting from the periphery of the disk E2.

H represents a series of rollers which are mounted between the disks E' and E2, the rollers H having their bearing at one end in the disk E and at the opposite end in the lugs or projections c. The diameter of the rollers II is such as to equal thev distance between the periphery of the disk E and the periphery of the flange G; but the said roll- 7o ers do not contact with the said flange G, but are free to revolve on their journals. The distance between the rollers H is such as to leave an opening h between them sutlicient to allow of the sweep of the roller-teeth d as the teeth mesh while in operation. It will be observed that the axes of the rollers H and the axis of the wheel E practically coincide or are parallel or approximately parallel. The two rollers d and l-I after engagement will 8o roll one on the other, and thus reduce the friction to a minimum, or, practically speaking, there is no friction between the parts engaged during the meshing of the driving and receiving wheel.

It will of course be understood that the distance between the teeth d on the wheel `D is such as to properly coincide and mesh with the rollers H, which form the teeth of the driving-wheel E. 9o

J represents a wheel of similar construction to t-he wheel D, but of smaller diameter. The

wheel .I is secured to the sleeve C at the end opposite the wheel D and meshes with a wheel K, which is of a construction exactly similar to the wheel E, but smaller in diameter. The wheel K is suitably secured to the shaft of the driving-wheel L or to the wheel L, and hence it will be seen that as the crank-shaft Fis revolved the driving-wheel is revolved roo with it, and the Wheel E, meshing with the Wheel D, revolves the sleeve C, Wheel .I and in turn the wheel K, and propels the bicycle.

I have shown in Fig. VI a sectional view of my preferred method of mounting the rollers both on the Wheel E and on the Wheels D, J, and K. This method consists in providing a spindle M, formed with a reduced portion M', which is centrally located along the length of the spindle, thus causing the roller N to bear only at the ends of the spindle M, as shown. This reduces the friction of the bearings of the rollers to a minimum, which is avery important feature.

By a gearing constructed according to my invention it will be seen that a practically frictionless and noiseless driving apparatus is obtained and the objectionable feature of the chain and sprocket-Wheel and usual gearing is obviated.

1. In a bicycle or like vehicle, the combination with a revoluble sleeve supported between the crank-axle and rear-Wheel axle, of gearing comprising a driving-Wheel mounted upon the crank-axle and consisting of concentric disks of different diameter, a ringflange or annulus connecting said disks together and a series of rollers mounted upon axes substantially parallel to the axis of the Wheel, and spaced apart to constitute teeth for the Wheel, a Wheel similar in construction to the driving-Wheel mounted upon the rear axle, and receiving wheels or pinions,mounted one at either end of the sleeve, and having radially-projecting peripheral pins carrying rollers,said pinions meshing respectively with the wheels on the crank-axle and rear axle.

2. In a bicycle or like vehicle, the combination With a revoluble sleeve supported between the crank-axle and rear-Wheel axle, and carrying pinions provided with radially-disposed roller-teeth, of a driving-wheel fixed upon the crank-axle, and comprising concentric disks of different diameter, a ring-fiange or annulus securing said disks together, and a series of rollers mounted in bearings to revolve in the vertical plane of said annnlus.

3. In a bicycle or like vehicle, the combi nation with a revoluble sleeve supported between the crank-axle and rear-Wheel axle, and carrying pinions having radially disposed roller-teeth, and with a Wheel on the rear axle also provided with roller-teeth, of a driving- Wheel mounted upon the crank-axle and comprising concentric disks of different diameter, the smaller of said disks having a series of peripheral lugs, a ring-flange or `annulus securing said disks together, and a series of rollers mounted in bearings formed in said lugs and in the larger disk.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two Witnesses, this 11th day of September, 1897.

CHARLES II. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

W. E. DoNNnLLv, A. M. AUSTIN. 

